Expandable binder

ABSTRACT

A novel binder which opens flat and allows pages therein to lie flat including substantially rigid backing members which protract when a large number of pages are used and retract when fewer pages are used. An improved clamp maintains the backing members immovable in any desired protracted position. Rigid page holders project from the backing members, the holders having free ends spaced one from another a distance determined by the relative positions of the backing members. The holders are detachably connected by a replaceable bridge having a preselected length to correspond to the relative position of the backing members. In an alternative embodiment, selected ones of the page holders have a hinged end connected to one end of the bridge and biased toward an open position and others of the page holders have a bridgereleasing mechanism accommodating simultaneous opening of all bridges at once.

United States Patent 11 1 Strong 1 1 EXPANDABLE BINDER Kline D. Strong, 1726 Countryside [76] Inventor:

Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 [22] Filed: Sept. 21, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 74,067

[52] US. Cl 402/29, 402/30, 402/34, 402/56, 402/59, 402/75, 402/80 [51] Int. Cl B421 3/04 [58] Field of Search 402/21-36, 45-59, 7i 75, 402/77, 80

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,731,927 10/1929 Hulseman 402/50 3,084,964 14/1963 Ruth 248/226 C 1,479,183 l/1924 Kahn 402/59 UX 2,129,799 9/1938 Viens 402/74 2,021,724 11/1935 Grosse etal. 402/74 X 792,664 6/1905 Miller 402/33 808,248 12/1905 Morden 1 402/27 2,093,041 9/1937 Emery 402/58 X 3,104,664 9/1963 Mintz 402/35 1,020,990 3/1912 Krautheim 402/6l 1,984,376 12/1934 Krag 40 2/33 X 2,099,472 11/1937 Emery 402/58 X 3,237,825 3/1966 Marbut 402/74 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,009,162 2/1952 France 402/51 111 3,75,74 451 Jan. 15, 1974 Switzerland .1 402/59 Great Britain 402/47 Primary Examiner.lerome Schnall Att0rneyH. Ross Workman An improved clamp maintains the backing members immovable in any desired protracted position. Rigid page holders project from the backing members, the holders having free ends spaced one from another a distance determined by the relative positions of the backing members. The holders are detachably connected by a replaceable bridge having a preselected length to correspond to the relative position of the backing members. In an alternative embodiment, selected ones of the page holders have a hinged end connected to one end of the bridge and biased toward an open position and others of the page holders have a bridge-releasing mechanism accommodating simultaneous opening of all bridges at once.

1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 1 51974 3'. 7 85 7'40 sum 1 or z INVENTOR. Kline D. Sfrong QWJZAMM His Agent PATENTEIJ 1 3, 785 74D SHEET 2 0F 2 98 I04 I02 IIO INVENTOR. Kline D. Strong BY M QM )1m4m/ His Agent EXPANDABLE BINDER BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to page binders and, more particularly, to a binder which allows pages therein to lie flat and, at the same time, can be expanded or retracted to accommodate an increasing number of pages.

2. The Prior Art Page binders of the loose-leaf variety are well known in the art. Conventionally, loose-leaf binders have rigid metal rings upon which a plurality of pages may be placed so that the pages may beeasily turned from side to side. Loose-leaf binders have proved to be very popular because they accommodate easy addition and removal of pages from the binder without disturbing the position of other pages in the binder. Also, oose-leaf binders have been well accepted because they allow pages within the binder to lie flat as they are turned so that there is no difficulty in observing information on the'pages.

Loose-leaf binders have proved disadvantageous where the number of pages is steadily and continually increased beyond the capacity of the binder. Thus, for example, in legal loose-leaf services when one binder becomes full, it is necessary to acquire another binder to hold overflow pages. This creates indexing problems and generally makes the service more difficult to use.

In an effort to accommodate growth in the number of pages carried to a single binder, an expandable back binder was developed to allow the back of'the binder to be expanded or retracted depending on'the number of pages required to be placed therein. The conventional expandable back binder generally comprises an L-shaped backing member, one leg of the L projecting into the binder from eachof two back portions which may be protracted or retracted'one with respect to the other. Telescoping rods are disposed through the projecting leg of one bracket so as to mate in telescoping relationship with similar rods in the opposing leg of the other bracket. Properly punched paper is threaded on the rods between the projecting bracket legs and is tightly held between the bracket legs. This arrangement has the advantage of facile expandability.

However, the expandable back binder has not, until this present invention, included the distinct advantages of the loose-leaf binder, i.e., the ability to remove any one of the pages without disturbing-the relative position of the others and the ability to allow the pages to lie flat when turned from side'to side. The conventional expandable back binder cannot allow the pages to lie flat because the brackets on the backing members and the telescoping rods continuously urge the pages toward a plane generally normal to the plane of the back of the binder.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION The backing members are expandable so as to accommodate a wide range of numbers of pages without damage to the pages. 7

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved expandable binder. It is another valuable object of the present invention to provide a novel binder which has an expandable back and at the same time allows for facile removal of any one of the pages in the binder and which allows the pages in the binder to lie flat.

One still further object of the present invention includes improved apparatus and method for opening the binder to accommodate removal of pages.

It is another no less important object of the present invention to provide a novel method of binding looseleaf pages.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in con junction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one presently preferred expandable binder embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. ll;

"FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along lines 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the binder of FIG. 1, alternate positions of the connecting link being illustrated in broken lines;

FIG. 5 illustrates the binder of FIG. 1 in the fully expanded position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary illustration of the coupling site for a link and post;

FIG. 7 is another presently preferred expandable binder embodiment; I I

FIG. 8' is a top plan view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7, parts being broken away to reveal internal members;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 7 in the fully expanded condition; and

FIG. 10 is an alternative coupling configuration which may be used with the binder embodiments of FIGS. l and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention is best understood by referring to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout.

The Embodimentof FIGS. 1-6

Referring now to FIG. l, the binder generally designated is formed of front and back cover leaves 22 and 24, respectively. The cover leaves 22 and 24 may be of any suitable type, one common type being of rigid construction formed of heavy fibrous paper.

Cover leaf 22 is connected to outside backing member 26 by a hinge-joint 28. Backing member 26 is preferably a metal frame covered with material which is substantially identical to that carried by cover leaf 22 so that the backing member has the appearance of conventional book binding. The hinge-joint 28 allows the cover leaf 22 to rotate relative to the backing member 26 through more than 90 from a generally perpendicular position to a substantially coplanan position. Backing member 30, having a construction which is substantially the same as backing member 26 is superimposed over backing member 26 and is attached by hinge-joint 32 to cover leaf 24. Backing member 30 and cover-leaf 24 are relatively movable at the hinge-joint 32 so that cover leaf 24 may be rotated through more than 90 from a position essentially normal to the backing member to a position substantially coplanan to backing member 30.

Backing member 26 has a plurality of outwardly projecting posts 34 which, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, are secured in place by a threaded engagement with screws 36. The posts 34 are sized so as to be threaded through perforations in pages, papers and the like. Posts 34 have axially oriented bores 38 which are internally threaded and which open at the base of posts 34 to receive screws 36. Screws 36 project through an aperture in backing members 26 so as to rigidly unite the posts 34 and the backing member. The posts 34 are adapted to receive paper or other leaves and are spaced along the backing member 26 at desired locations corresponding to conventional three ring binders, two ring binders or any suitable conventional file or binder. It is advantageous for the posts 34 to be removably attached to the backing member 26 so that, when desired, other posts which are greater in size may be substituted for the posts 34 to accommodate a greater volume of paper and vice versa.

As best shown in FIG. 4, post 34 has a right angle bend 40 which terminates in a coupling end 42. The coupling end 42 is smoothly rounded in the vertical plane, as shown in FIG. 4, the purposes hereinafter more fully described.

Backing member 30 is provided with posts 44 which are spaced at locations adjacent the hinge-joint 32 so as to be diametrically opposite posts 34. As shown in FIG. 4, posts 44 are connected to the backing member 30 with screws 48 in a manner substantially identical to that of posts 34, and, are also provided with a bend 50 and free coupling end 52 which is oriented so as to face directly the coupling end 42 of post 34. The coupling end 52 is substantially the same as coupling end 42.

It is presently preferred that the posts 34 and 44 be connected together with a bridge or link 54. Link 54 has, at each end, outward projections 56 which are terminated in a generally spherical coupling ball 58. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the extension 56 is continuous, at the upper end, with the periphery of the link 54. How ever, the opposite edge of the extension 56 is set back from the periphery of the link 54 so as to form a shoulder 60. Referring now to FIG. 6, it can be appreciated that the connecting end 42 has a vertical blind bore 62 which opens at the top of the end 42 and also at the curved face 64.

When it is desired to couple the link 54 with the end 42, the ball 58 is displaced along the path of arcuate broken line 66 (FIG. 4) into the bore 62. The downward movement of the ball 58 is limited by a lower shelf 68 at the bottom of bore 62. Preferably, the diametral dimension of the link 54 and the diametral dimension of the posts 34 and 44 are substantially identical so that paper will move across the coupling site easily, without obstruction.

Link 54 is preferably formed of nylon or other synthetic resinous material and the coupling sphere 58 is slightly larger than the bore 62. Thus when the coupling sphere 58 is pressed into the bore 62, it will remain until forcibly removed. When desired, the link 54 may be separated from the end 42 and 52, as shown in FIGS. 4 and l, by forcing the link out of engagement with the coupling 42 or 52. As shown in FIG. I, either selected end of the link 54 may be detached or, alternatively, the entire link 54 may be removed. When link 54 is not removed, it may be rotated at the coupling site until it rests in an upstanding position as shown by the broken line in FIG. 4 so that paper may be easily placed on posts 34 or 44 without the requirement of continuously holding the link up.

As previously described,v the ends 42 and 52 are rounded in the vertical plane so that the shoulder 60 can be displaced past the end 42 or 52 obstruction. Also, the rounded ends allow paper to be displaced across the coupling site without tearing or otherwise damaging the pages.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 4, fasteners 70 and 72 are surmounted upon backing members 30 and, as will now be more fully described, maintain backing members 30 and 26 immovable relative one to the other. Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which more particularly illustrates the fastener 70. As shown in FIG. 3, backing member 30 has an elongated slot 76 traversing a path parallel to the end of the backing member 30. A rod 78 having a diametrically enlarged head 80 is secured at the head 80 to the backing member 26 and projects upwardly through the slot 76. Rod 78 is pivotally attached by a pin 81 (FIGS. and 5) to the fastener 70. As shown in FIG. 4, the pin 81 is eccentrically located in the fastener 70-so that the heel 82 of the fastener 70 forms a cam. If desired, as shown in FIG. 3, the pin 78 may be disposed in a wedge-shaped slot in the fastener 70 so that the heel or cam 82 can engage the backing member 30 on both sides of the slot 76.

Fastener 70 has a contoured lever 84 which is used to displace the heel 82 arcuately around the pin 81. The lever 84 is upturned at the end so that the heel 82 may be released from the engaging position by inserting a finger under the upturned end. Fastener 72, which is substantially identical to fastener 70, is located near the opposite end of backing members 26 and 30 to insure stability when the backing members are locked together. Nevertheless, although two fasteners are illustrated, any suitable number may be used. The fasteners are preferably low profile so as to minimize the likelihood that the pages will inadv ertently catch on the fasteners when the pages are turned.

The Method of FIGS. 1-6

In the method of using the described expandable binder, desired pages such as properly punched paper is placed in the binder by first snapping the link 54 from its engagement with posts 34 or 44. Thereafter, the paper leaves are placed upon the posts 34 or 44 by passing the exposed coupling ends 42 or 52 through the apertures in the punched paper. As can be appreciated, the cover leaves 22 and 24 may be allowed to lie substantially flat and the pages disposed on posts 34 or 44 will also lie substantially flat in superimposition over the cover leaves 22 or 24.

When the pages have been positioned on the posts 34 or 44, the links 54 may be again replaced by forcing the coupling ball 58 into the bore 62 (FIG. 6). In can be appreciated that when the links 54 have been replaced, the pages may be easily turned from side to side and are allowed to lie completely flat on the cover leaves 22 and 24.

As'the number of pages inserted into the binder increases, the fastener 70 may be rotated from the FIG. 4 position to the FIG. 5 position thereby releasing compressive pressure between the backing members 26 and 30 so that the backing members are relatively movable. The link 54 is removed and the backing members situated so as to accommodate the desired number of pages. Fasteners 70 and 72 are then rotated clockwise so that the cam 82 forces the rod 78 upwardly and tightly compresses the backing members 26 and 30 together. Thereafter; another link, such as link 88 (FIG. 5) is used to connect posts 34 and 44. Notably, link 88 is substantially identical to link 54 except that link 88 has a length corresponding with the desired expansion of the backing members 26 and 30. Clearly, the links may have any suitable length to correspond to the protraction of the backing members 26 and 30. Also, if desired, links may be provided with a male coupling at one end and a female coupling at-the other so that a plurality of links may be united instead of selecting a single longer link.

It is also observed that, if desired, longer posts (not shown) similar to posts 34 and 44 may be provided to accommodate a greater volume of paper leaves. Screws 36 may be removed and the other posts (not shown) may be substituted for posts 34 and 44.

Apparatus of FIGS. 7-9

The apparatus of FIGS. 7-9 is a page-holding structure or bail similar to that described in FIGS. 1-6 and also accommodates expansion of backing members 26 and 30 while at the same time accommodating generally horizontal repose of paper leaves when the binder is in a flat, open position. The FIG. 7 embodiment differs from the embodiment previously described in that posts 90 and 92 are provided, each having a generally arcuate configuration. Post 90- has an internally threaded blind bore 94 which allows the post 90 to be rigidly secured to the backing member with screw 96. As best shown in FIG. 8, the post 90 has forwardly projecting tongue 98 which is inserted into the clevis 100 of a coupling member 102. A connecting pin 104 secures the clevis 100 to the tongue 98 so that the connecting member 102 rotates easily about the axis of pin 104. In the illustrated embodiment, biasing structure, such as spring 106 continuously urges the connecting member 102 in the direction of broken arrow 108 (FIG. 7).

Connecting member 102 has amale coupling 110 projecting forwardly which is received by the female coupling 1 12 of bridge or link 114. The link 114is preferably formed of resilient material such as plastic.

Link 114 has a coupling end 116 which normally rests adjacent the upper tip 118 of post 92. The end 116 has a centrally located recess 120 surrounded by an annular shoulder defined by the end 116. When the link 1114 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the recess 120 is filled with a detent 122 which is biased outwardly by spring 124. A detent retainer (not shown) maintains the detent within annular bore 126 even when the link 114 has been rotated away from the post 92.

Detent 122 is connected to cord 126 which travels through a diametrically reduced portion 130 of the bore 126, through a recess 132 in the backing member 26 and an aperture 134 in connecting plate 136. Connecting plate 136 is rigidly mounted to the backing member 26 with screw 136.

The Method of FIGS. 7-9.

When it is desired to open the link 114 to allow papers to be disposed over the link I14 and post 90, or, alternatively, over the post 92, the cord 128 is displaced away from the post 92 so that detent 122 is retracted, thereby compressing spring 124. As detent 122 is retracted out of recess 120, the spring 106 urges the connecting member 102 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 7) so that the attached link 114 is displaced in the direction of arrow 108 by the force of spring 106.

It can be appreciated that cord 128 may be connected into any one of a plurality of cords from similar posts disposed at space locations along backing member 26. Thus, it can be appreciated, that a single actuating member can be used to simultaneously release a plurality of links automatically.

When desired, link 114 may be removed by opening the link 114 from posts 192 and separating link 114 from its press-fit relation withthe connecting member 102. Thereafter, backing members 26 and 30 may be extended by rotating fastener from the FIG. 7 position to the FIG. 9 position and laterally extending the backing members. Another link .140 may then be substituted for the link 114 to provide a continuous pathway between posts and 92 for pages. Clearly, if desired, the backing members 26 and 30 may be secured in any laterally extensible position between those of FIGS. '7 and 9. The relative positions are maintained by rotating the fastener 70 clockwise thereby forcing the backing members together as described in connection with FIG. l-6, above. In any event, when the backing members are secured together, a link having an appropriate length is connected to the connector 102 so as to meet the post 92.

The Embodiment of FIG. 10

FIG. 10 illustrates another presently preferred way of coupling a bridge or link to a post 152. The post 152 may have the same general configuration as post 92 or post 34, as desired. Link 150 has a generally spherical coupling head 154 which is separated from the link 150 by a generally reduced neck portion 156. Notably, the upper portion of the neck 156 is coextensive with the periphery of the link 150.

Post 152 has an annular bore 156 which is diametrically enlarged at 160 to provide a track for detent 162. The trailing end of detent 162 is connected to a metal wire 164 and the leading endhas a ramp surface 166. The wire 164 may be displaced to move the detent 162 to and fro within the track 162, as desired. The track 162 opens into a hemispherical-recess 168 into which the spherical coupling 154 is disposed. The recess 168 has sides (not shown) which are continuously urged against the spherical coupling 154 so that the link 150 and post 152 are maintained in a press-fit relation.

When the wire 164 is actuated from the illustrated position to a forward position, the detent 162 is advanced to force the ramp surface 166 beneath the coupling 154 thereby urging the coupling member 154 out of the press-fit relation with the post 152 until the link 150 is free. Preferably, the link 150 will be biased, in a manner similar to that described with link 1 14, above, so that the link 150 will be automatically displaced away from post 152 when the detent 162 is actuated.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the illustrated embodiments of the present invention are protractable and retractable to accommodate progressively increasing or decreasing numbers of pages. Also,

the pages are easily turned from side to side and will lie completely flat on either cover leaf. Further, the bridges or links over which the pages are displaced can be easily opened individually or in unison for removal or addition of pages without disturbing the relative position of other pages.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An expandable binder comprising:

first and second generally rectangular coverleafs;

a first backing member connected in hinged relation with one edge of the first coverleaf so as to be coplanar therewith in at least one angular position;

a second backing member connected in hinged relation with one edge of the second coverleaf so as to be coplanar therewith in at least one angular position and disposed parallel to and contiguous with the first backing member in overlapping relation;

at least two elongate ways formed in the first backing member, the elongation being oriented perpendicular to the hinged side of the first backing member;

at least two upstanding pins secured to the second backing member, each pin positioned to project through the corresponding elongate way in the first backing member so as to limit relative movement between the first and second backing members along a line perpendicular to the hinge along the sides of the backing members and to prevent relative movement of the backing members in any other direction;

at least two finger-actuated cams each rotatably attached to corresponding upstanding pins and selectively rotatable to one position to impinge upon the first backing member and urge the second backing member immovably against the first and alternately positionable in another position out of impingement with the first backing member thereby permitting relative movement of the first and second backing members;

at least two spaced page-carrying bails each comprising opposing upstanding posts one secured to each of the first and second backing members respectively and spaced along a line perpendicular to the hinged sides, each post comprising securing means for securing the post to the corresponding backing member, a vertical upstanding page-carrying portion, and a releasable connection attachment site disposed at the end of the post opposite the securing means, the releasable connection attachment site on one post comprising a press-fit coupling member hingedly attached to the one upstanding post and comprising on the other post an axial bore, a detent displaceably situated within the bore and biasing means urging the detent toward an extended position;

a set of completely removable bridging means of different lengths, each bridging means having one end releasably attachable in press-fit relation with the press-fit coupling member on the one upstanding post and the other end defines a recess for selectively receiving the detent on the other upstanding post, the bridging means being selectively detachable from either attachment site, so that one bridging means may be exchanged for another bridging means of a different length; and

means accommodating axial displacement of the detent for detaching the bridging means from the other upstanding post and allowing arcuate displacement of the bridging means about the hinge on the attachment site of the one upstanding post. 

1. An expandable binder comprising: first and second generally rectangular coverleafs; a first backing member connected in hinged relation with one edge of the first coverleaf so as to be coplanar therewith in at least one angular position; a second backing member connected in hinged relation with one edge of the second coverleaf so as to be coplanar therewith in at least one angular position and disposed parallel to and contiguous with the first backing member in overlapping relation; at least two elongate ways formed in the first backing member, the elongation being oriented perpendicular to the hinged side of the first backing member; at least two upstanding pins secured to the second backing member, each pin positioned to project through the corresponding elongate way in the first backing member so as to limit relative movement between the first and second backing members along a line perpendicular to the hinge along the sides of the backing members and to prevent relative movement of the backing members in any other direction; at least two finger-actuated cams each rotatably attached to corresponding upstanding pins and selectively rotatable to one position to impinge upon the first backing member and urge the second backing member immovably against the first and alternately positionable in anOther position out of impingement with the first backing member thereby permitting relative movement of the first and second backing members; at least two spaced page-carrying bails each comprising opposing upstanding posts one secured to each of the first and second backing members respectively and spaced along a line perpendicular to the hinged sides, each post comprising securing means for securing the post to the corresponding backing member, a vertical upstanding page-carrying portion, and a releasable connection attachment site disposed at the end of the post opposite the securing means, the releasable connection attachment site on one post comprising a press-fit coupling member hingedly attached to the one upstanding post and comprising on the other post an axial bore, a detent displaceably situated within the bore and biasing means urging the detent toward an extended position; a set of completely removable bridging means of different lengths, each bridging means having one end releasably attachable in press-fit relation with the press-fit coupling member on the one upstanding post and the other end defines a recess for selectively receiving the detent on the other upstanding post, the bridging means being selectively detachable from either attachment site, so that one bridging means may be exchanged for another bridging means of a different length; and means accommodating axial displacement of the detent for detaching the bridging means from the other upstanding post and allowing arcuate displacement of the bridging means about the hinge on the attachment site of the one upstanding post. 